n  /   /  •    f  • '"  +- 


U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAl    01    PLANT  INDUSTRY    Circular  No.  102. 

D.  i    i; ai.i.i'W  \y  i  .    au. 


THE  PRODUCTION  OF  HAIRY  7ETCH  SEED. 


BY 

0.  V.  PIPER, 
Agrottologui  m  Chargt  oj  Forage-Crop  I      ■'      <:on», 

A\l> 

EDGAR  BROWN, 

botuio St  ill  <  I 


'.ISO  '— lo 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PfllNTINO  OfFlCE  :  l.lt 


BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 


Chie/  0/  Bureau,  Beverly  T.  Galloway. 
Assistant  Chief  0/  Bureau,  William  A.  Taylor. 
Editor,  3.  E.  Rockwell. 
Chiej  Clerk,  James  E.  Jones. 


M    !•    I      :- 


THE  PRODUCTION  OF  HAIR7  VETCH  SEED 


INTRODUCTION. 

During  the  past  seven  years  the  culture  of  hairy  retch  baa  increi 
in  the  I'm  i  cd  States  al  least  tin  fold.  The  crop  is  constantly  growing 
in  favor  m  the  Southern  States  for  winter  cover  and  bay.  In  the 
North  it  is  being  used  more  and  more  on  sandy  lands  and  also  w 
other  soils  when-  red  clover  do  longer  gives  satisfactory  returns. 
This  rapid  increase  bas  been  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  seed  lias 
he. -n  relatively  costly,  the  farmer  rarely  purchasing  it  as  low  as  $6 
a  bushel,  while  in  the  la>t  three  year-  the  seed  bas  commanded 
|fl  in  $9  a  bushel.  This  increase  in  price  seems  to  be  due  mainly  to 
the  increased  American  demand,  a-  the  actual  supply  grown  in 
Europe  is  not  large  and  thus  far  hut  little  bas  been  produced  in  thr 
United  State-.  The  higher  prices  will  doubtless  tend  to  stimulate 
the  growing  of  this/eed  in  Europe,  hut  il  can  he  profitably  produced 
in  many  parts  of  tin-  country.  Undoubtedly  it  will  he  economical 
for  American  farmers  to  grow  the  hairy  vetch  seed  needed  locally. 

and  any  surplus  can  always  he  -old  at   good   prices.      In  good  Vetch- 

seed  sections  a  crop  of  5  bushels  of  hairy  vetch  and  20  bushels  of 
rye  to  the  acre  can  reasonably  he  expected,  and  under  favorable 
conditions  lo  to  L2  bushels  of  hairy  vetch  seed  to  the  acre  can  ho 
<;ro\vn.  Kven  at  So  or  *  I  a  hushel  such  crop-  are  very  profitable, 
and  at  this  price  the  demand  for  the  seed  would  certainly  increase 
enormously.     In  view  of  this  increasing  demand.  American  farmers 

are  urged  to  grow  seed  of  tlii-  crop,  at   least   for  their  local  use,  and 

also  where  the  conditions  prove  very  favorable  to  supply  the  general 
market.  Satisfactory  machine-  are  now  available  to  separate  hairy 
vetch  siM-tl  from  rye. 

SOURCES   OF    SEED. 

At  present  practically  all  the  seed  used  in  this  country  i-  imported 
from  Russia  and  Germany.  Table  i.  showing  the  quantity  of  seed 
imported  each  fiscal  year  ended  June  :•>()  since  1  905,  together  with 
the  import  prices,  is  based  on  the  record  of  customhouse  samples. 
It  will  he  noted  that  the  quantity  of  -eed  imported  ha-  increased 
very  rapidly,  especially  since  1908. 

3 


PRODUCTION    OF    HAIRY    VETCH    SEED. 
Table  I. — Hairy  vetch  seed  importations. 


Fiscal  year. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

A  verage 
price  per 
pound. 

Fiscal  year. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

A  verage 
price  per 
pound. 

1905 

73,245 
68,354 

20S. 100 

294,896 

542.948 

$0.  040 
.055 
.04H 
.  042 
.  039 
.041 

mil  .. 

954  025 

•  (5  47' i 
1,947.1dm 
2,181,000 

4i,1.73« 

SO  059 

1900 

1912... 

087 

1907 

L913 

045 

1908 

1914   .. 

049 

1909 

July   1,   1914.  to  Mav  30. 
1915 ' 

1910 

.061 

The  average  price  is  considerably  lower  than  the  average  price  for 
a  good  quality  of  seed,  because  in  these  lots  are  included  many  which 
are  low  in  quality,  both  on  account  of  adulteration  and  low  vitality. 

EUROPEAN  METHODS  OF  GROWING  HAIRY  VETCH  SEED. 

In  the  Baltic  Provinces  of  Russia  hairy  vetch  occurs  as  a  more  or 
less  persistent  weed  in  grain  fields,  and  practically  all  of  the  supply 
of  the  seed  from  that  region  is  secured  by  separation  from  the  rye 
seed. 

In  Prussia,  especially  in  the  provinces  of  East  and  West  Prussia 
and  Pomerania,  there  is  extensive  production  for  seed,  but  in  Ger- 
many generally  more  hairy  vetch  is  raised  with  rye  for  green  fodder 
than  for  seed.  The  rate  of  seeding  used  in  Germany  is  considerably 
heavier  than  that  which  has  been  found  advisable  for  seed  purposes 
in  this  country.  The  German  Agricultural  Society  recommends 
sowing  53  pounds  of  hairy  vetch  and  72  pounds  of  rye  to  the  acre, 
but  the  average  rate  of  seeding  is  somewhat  less,  though  the  crop  is 
usually  grown  on  light,  sandy  soil  where  a  comparatively  heavy 
seeding  is  needed.  Hairy  vetch  seed  is  universally  sown  with  winter 
rye  and  usually  with  the  variety  known  as  Johannesroggen,  or 
St.  John's  rye.  This  variety  of  rye  is  peculiar  in  that  it  can  be  sown 
as  early  as  June  and  at  any  time  thereafter  until  the  latter  part  of 
September.  It  is  a  very  free-stooling  variety  and  makes  a  large  leaf 
growth  close  to  the  ground.  This  rye  supplies  excellent  pasturage  iu 
the  fall,  and  the  date  of  maturity  is  10  to  15  days  later  than  common 
rye. 

SEPARATION  OF  HAIRY  VETCH  SEED  FROM  RYE. 

As  hairy  vetch  is  usually  sown  in  combination  with  rye  it  is  not 
necessary  to  separate  the  mixed  seed  as  harvested  when  about  one- 
third  of  the  mixture  is  vetch.  Such  mixed  seed  is  far  more  economi- 
cal to  use  than  to  pay  the  present  high  price  for  imported  seed. 

When  a  separation  of  the  seeds  is  desirable  it  is  easily  and  effect- 
ively accomplished  by  the  use  of  a  spiral  separator,  known  in  Europe 
as  "Schncckentrieur,"  which  requires  no  power,  being  operated  by 
gravity.     This  apparatus  is  covered  by  United  States  Letters  Patent 


PBODU<   I  [OS    OP    il  UB1    \  I  iiii    m.i  i).  5 

■70,  dated  Julj  1.  1899,  and  is  now  manufactured  for  sale  in 
the  United  States.  The  machines  seen  in  Russia  had  a  capacity  <>f 
")D  to  75  bushels  a  day. 

\  satisfactory  separation  of  vetch  seed  can  also  be  made  by  use 
of  a  cloth-hell  apparatus  l>\  means  of  which  the  rye  <>r  other  i 
seed  is  carried  up  and  away  mi  b  belt,  while  the  vetch  seed  falls  over 
t h<>  belt  to  the  bottom.  A  number  »>f  forms  <>f  this  machine  are 
patented,  designed  especially  for  the  separation  of  buckhorn  from 
clover  -<vil.  A  separation  which  is  sufficientl)  L'<">d  for  preparing 
mixed  rye  and  vetch  seed  fm-  -air  local]}  can  be  obtained  by  letting 
the  mixed  -red  run  over  a  Beriea  of  inclined  I  oards  eat  1.  given 

angle  and  a  slighl  distance  apart,  -■>  thai  the  vetch  Beed  will  run  from 
one  board  to  another  and  the  rye  seed,  which  does  nut  run  so  readily, 
will  drop  through  between  the  boards.  This  can  easily  be  made  by 
anyone  for  home  use  and  requires  no  power  to  run,  as  the  seed  is 
simply  allowed  to  fall  over  a  series  of  steps. 

GROWING  HAIRY  VETCH  FOR  SEED. 

Hairy  vetch  will  produce  a  good  crop  of  seed  in  mosl  States.  The 
Urges!  crops  have  been  grown  on  the  Pacific  coast,  but  those  produced 

in  the  Northern  States  are  hut  lit  tie  smaller.  In  the  Southern  States 
the  Beed  crop  seems  to  vary  greatly  with  the  season,  hut  good  yields 
have  been  obtained. 

Hairy  vetch  i-  a  winter  annual,  behaving  like  winter  wheal.  I1' 
planted  in  the  srping,  it  ma\  produce  a  few  blossoms  the  -aim-  leason, 
but  will  make  little  or  no  seed  until  the  following  9eason.  If  planted 
in  the  fall,  it  ripens  it>  Beed  crop  the  following  duly.  Spring  sowing 
is  seldom  advisable,  and  then  only  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  in  tiie  arid 
regions.  When  spring  -own.  it  i-  besl  t<>  pasture  the  crop  the  first 
season.  In  the  Eastern  and  Northern  States  spring  seeding  should 
never  be  practiced,  a-  the  plant-  seldom  survive  the  humid  heat  of 
summer. 

Through  the  lack  of  the  proper  nitrogen-forming  bacteria,  hairy 
vetch  frequently  fails  to  produce  a  crop  on  land  where  it  ha-  not  pre- 
viously been  grown.  It  is  therefore  advisable,  whenever  hairy  vetch 
ded  on  land  for  the  first  time,  to  inoculate  the  -<■«  d  with  a  pure 
culture  of  the  nitrogen-forming  bacteria,  or  to  inoculate  the  -oil  with 
Boil  from  a  field  where  hairy  vetch  is  being  grown. 

The  seed  may  be  sown  from  the  middle  of  AugUSl  till  November, 
September  being  the  best  month.  If  -own  alone.  10  pounds  of  good 
seed  to  the  acre  are  sufficient,  though  60  pound-  are  frequently  used. 
A-  .■>.  genera]  practice,  however,  it  is  better  tu  bow  it  in  conjunction 
with  a  small-grain  crop  oats,  winter  wheat,  or  rye.  Oat-  are  often 
u-ed  in  the  South,  but  in  the  North  wheat  or  rye  inu-t  he  used.  Rye 
is  the  favorite,  but  if  intended  for  hav  the  wheat  combination  l-  more 


6  PRODUCTION    OF   HAIRY   VETCH    SEED. 

nutritious.  In  growing  such  mixtures  for  seed,  enough  grain  is  used 
to  make  about  two-thirds  of  a  stand  and  20  pounds  of  the  vetch  seed 
are  added.  Such  a  mixed  crop  is  easily  cut  with  a  mower  having  a 
swather  attachment,  or  even  with  a  binder.  If  more  vetch  is  used 
it  is  liable  to  lodge,  especially  in  spots  where  the  vetch  is  thick,  and 
the  mowing  is  therefore  rendered  more  difficult. 

Where  hairy  vetch  is  planted  alone,  it  nearly  always  becomes  more 
or  less  lodged,  and  should  be  mowed,  if  possible,  against  the  direction 
in  which  most  of  it  is  lying.  After  cutting  the  first  swath,  it  should 
be  rolled  upon  the  uncut  vetch  before  cutting  the  second  swath.  The 
two  swaths  should  then  be  rolled  out  clear  from  the  uncut  vetch. 
Sometimes  three  swaths  are  combined  in  this  way.  The  cut  vetch 
should  not  be  handled  more  than  is  necessary  in  curing,  and  care 
should  be  taken  in  shocking  to  cover  the  pods  as  much  as  possible. 
Hay  caps  are  very  desirable  for  this  purpose.  In  thrashing  pure 
vetch  it  is  sometimes  desirable  to  have  sharpened  teeth  on  the  con- 
caves, as  long  vetch  is  inclined  to  wrap  about  the  cylinder. 

If  hairy  vetch  is  pastured  rather  late,  the  subsequent  growth  will 
not  be  tall,  but  often  is  heavily  set  with  pods.  The  same  result  can 
be  obtained  by  cutting  the  vetch  early  and  feeding  it  green  or  putting 
it  into  a  silo.  Such  a  second  crop  is  much  more  easily  mowed  than 
tall  vetch,  and  in  some  instances  excellent  seed  crops  have  been  thus 
secured. 

Some  farmers  obtain  their  own  supply  of  seed  by  cutting  hair}-  vetch 
for  hay  rather  late,  i.  e.,  after  some  of  the  pods  have  ripened.  Much 
of  this  seed  will  rattle  to  the  bottom  of  the  mow,  especially  if  a  little 
care  is  taken  to  shake  each  forkful  as  it  is  being  used  for  feed.  Such 
late  cutting  reduces  slightly  the  value  of  the  hay,  but  the  seed  obtained 
often  justifies  the  practice. 

Hairy  vetch  ripens  its  pods  over  a  period  of  two  or  three  weeks. 
The  best  crops  are  obtained  when  the  first  pods  are  fully  ripe  and  the 
upper  pods  well  filled.  The  latter  ripen  in  the  shocks,  and  if  carefully 
handled  comparatively  few  of  the  ripe  pods  shatter.  It  is  best  to  cut 
the  crop  early  in  the  morning  or  on  a  cloudy  day.  In  any  event  the 
vetch,  whether  cut  in  bundles  or  otherwise,  should  be  put  into  shocks 
at  once  and  left  thus  till  thrashed.  The  most  important  rule  is  to 
handle  the  cut  crop  rapidly  and  as  little  as  possible. 

An  incidental  advantage  to  the  use  of  locally  grown  hairy  vetch 
seed  is  its  much  better  germinating  quality.  Old  seed  has  a  large 
percentage  of  hard  seeds,  which  lie  in  the  ground  a  long  time  without 
sprouting  and  which  are  practically  valueless  to  the  farmer.  Fresh 
samples  collected  in  Europe  in  1911  gave  a  uniformly  high  germina- 
tion, only  one  testing  below  91.5  per  cent.  Imported  seed,  which  is 
usually  1  year  old,  frequently  shows  a  hard-seed  content  of  10  to  40 
per  cent. 


PRODI  CTION    ui     H  \li;\     VETCH    SI  I  1>. 


8  PRODUCTION    OF    HAIRY    VETCH    SEED. 

EXPERIMENTS   IN    GROWING   HAIRY    VETCH    SEED    IN    AMERICA. 

While  hairy  vetch  for  hay  or  green  manure  has  long  been  grown 
successfully  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
there  has  been  relatively  little  investigation  made  of  its  seed  produc- 
tion. Table  II  is  a  compilation  of  published  American  data  in 
seed  production,  together  with  unpublished  results  obtained  by  the 
Department  and  its  cooperators. 

These  results  show  yields  ranging  from  3  to  15  bushels  per  acre, 
with  an  average  of  6^  bushels  for  all  the  trials.  Such  a  yield  makes 
a  decidedly  profitable  crop.  Where  vetch  is  grown  alone  the  seed 
yields  are  heavier,  but  this  is  largely  counterbalanced  by  the  diffi- 
culty of  harvesting,  so  that  it  is  advisable  as  a  rule  to  grow  it  in 
combination  with  rye. 

Approved: 

James  Wieson, 
Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

Washington,  D.  C,  August  7,  1912. 

[Cir.  102.] 


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